Here is where my personal observations begin. I have attended many NQC’s in the past as both a fan and a participant. I was fortunate enough to travel many years and miles with a great quartet. We were well known and respected by fans and industry leaders/insiders. Through hard work and dedication, we were fortunate enough to be able to participate in some of the nation’s top-billed promotions, including the NQC main stage. Because of our position within the industry, we often were aware of the real reasons folks left groups, etc (spending more time with family was usually NOT the reason). I say all of that to say this…..Some things never change. I could feel the egos hitting me in the face before I ever reached for the door handle Friday night. I had stayed away from the NQC for a few years because it simply turned my stomach to know some of the things that transpire behind the scenes. I had hoped that those feelings had subsided. They had not. As I entered the building, I felt the same nausea that I had felt before. The NQC used to be a very prestigious event. What I saw Friday was a lack of respect for the event- shoddy booths by some of the “top groups” in the industry, flea market items on a majority of the tables, etc. I believe that the NQC board should actually enforce their own rules about exhibits even if it means not collecting a few dollars in booth rental fees. The over-all look of the exhibit hall tells me that the board members themselves have lost some respect for the event.

Next, a message to the “local” groups from Anywhere, USA that spend an outlandish amount of money to promote your group in Louisville, KY. Grant it, there are people from all over the US attending the NQC that could book your group, but do the math. A group of 4 or 5 with a booth, hotel, food (pork chop sandwiches aint cheap), etc can run into the thousands of $$. Are any of the folks you are promoting yourselves to going to be able to recoup those dollars for you with their one or two (I’m being generous) bookings? Are you there just because you spent more $$ to get yourselves on a showcase at one of the hotels? I am not trying to be discouraging here (I told you I would probably regret this). I wish for all God-led ministries to succeed. All I am saying is…use the money you would spend at NQC for the week to actaully hire Nashville musicians to play on your next recording. Practice your singing and stage presence instead of trying to get Southern Spin to “reach a deal” with you. If you truly practice your trade and perfect your craft, you will be noticed for your music and ministry instead of your outfits and trinkets.

I wish I felt differently. I used to love the NQC and the southern gospel scene as a whole. I still love the message of the music. I wish that those (from the top-selling and most well known groups out there to the newest local group out there) who may have lost sight of the real prize would take a sincere look at their purpose and mission.

I’ll stop now.

Whose brilliant idea was having Dino @ NQC? UGH, where’s a trapdoor when you need it?

Also, I was thrilled to hear Ricky Atkinson doing a radio interview today. He is always so great and is very humble despite what a great songwriter he is. I always enjoy hearing him sing and the new group is fantastic. I was a big fan of Scott Thomas during the “good” years of Tony Gore when he was singing there and I am so excited to see him back in SG. I heard Ricky Atkinson & Compassion at the Gatlinburg Gathering and was blown away. I also thought they did well at NQC. What makes no sense to me is that Ricky writes the SONG OF THE YEAR as well as 2 of his own songs that were top 10 hits THIS YEAR and several songs released by other groups this year and still wasn’t nominated for songwriter of the year. Did I miss something??!!!!! That’s ridiculous!! Ricky is great and so is the new group. People need to pay attention!!

The Perrys showed their stuff on Who Am I. It was a nice touch to have Mark Trammell sing the first verse and then have Habedank take it on the second verse. I’m still mixed on some of the new material. There’s just not a lot of emotion in it from what I’ve heard so far (despite the fact that a lot of the material is supposed to be power ballads). The music is a little straight-laced in some of the songs I’ve hard so far. It will likely grow on me though. I’m a little tired of it, but the crowd loves I Wish I Could Have Been There. It’s NQC. The Perrys are giving the adoring fans what they want. Nick Trammell was a trip during his acceptance speech for Horizon Individual or Favorite Young Artist (whatever he received that Scott Inman didn’t). I don’t believe that Habedank tries to outsing Loren. He just has his own freelancing type of style in singing the lead. It has to be hard for the other group members who sing harmony to follow at times. Habedank is very good. His voice is quite advanced for his age. He’s more comfortable in his upper range now than he was at this time last year. It’s evident. He’s improving.

Scott Inman getting recognized with an award, possibly due in part to the fact that Lauren Talley wasn’t nominated, is well deserved. What a mature voice for a young guy.

The Lesters version of He Is surprised me. It was really good. It’s nice to see Ginger and Brian back on stage together. They sing such great harmony. Long live the Lester legacy. They may not be the most entertaining, but vocally, there about as good as any mixed group out there.

Legacy Five is great, but I wasn’t thrilled with their Thursday evening performance. Frank Seamans may be the best tenor in Southern Gospel music, but the current version of I Stand Redeemed doesn’t touch Josh Cobb’s version from several years back. There’s no disrespect meant to Frank there. He’s great. Keep bringing it Frank. Congrats to a well-deserving Glenn Dustin on his award.

Reggie Saddler was a trip with the guitar. That was seriously entertaining. They too gave the fans what they want with I’ve Got Me A Home.

Sheri Easter has a low alto voice, and it’s sometimes rough and scratchy sounding. However, I like it. She’s very talented and has great voice control.

To the Booth Brothers, congrats. You’ve gotten so much better over the last five years. The addition of Jim Brady helped matters. You’ve been “the” group for a couple of years now. I’m glad to see you get recognized for it.

Once Upon A Cross is a powerful song. The Mark Trammell Trio does a great job of delivering it. However, why sing it twice in one night, at the fan awards and then during your late-night set too? There’s no need for that. Hurst adds so much by singing on that song. Mark did a nice job as well.

Rodney Griffin is not the best singer out there, but he delivers a song well. He really is able to get the message across. Waldroup’s range has progressively gotten better. Gerald, you’ve constantly been striving for excellence. Please don’t stop now. Don’t be on the back side of the hill. Find a way to keep it fresh. We need GV to continue being a major player in the industry, by pushing the envelope via whatever means and not merely by existing.

The Kingdom Heirs have been so popular for so long. I’m not much on what you’re doing right now, and judging by the way-more-reserved response of the fans than in years past, maybe they are too to some extent. Find better material. Forever Changed is a great song. Arthur sings it well. Keep Arthur in his range. He’s a great singer when he’s not singing in up there with the tenors. When he is, I don’t care to hear it. And again, find better material. Strive to do so. I don’t believe that’s been the case. Maybe they’re ministering to you or others, but I don’t see it.

Kudos to Ricky Atkinson for co-writing the song of the year.

We miss you Roger Bennett. You were seriously entertaining. We all look forward to laughing with you again.

Four down and two to go. Soak it in and enjoy it. We have to wait another year before we can do it again.